July  24,  1902. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
81 
require  no  praise,  neither  do  the  selected  strains  of  Shirley 
Poppies,  or  Verbenas  which  are  now  offered.  A  deep  purple 
Candytuft,  unnamed,  was  especially  distinctive,  and  the  hand¬ 
some  Larkspurs  in  many  blue  and  violet-purple  hues  stood  out 
prominently  and  well.  And  lastly  (for  my  visit  here  was  brief)  1 
would  bring  to  the  notice  of  any  who  have  not  seen  it,  a  variety 
of  Antirrhinum  majus,  named  nigrans,  with  long  and  stout 
racemes  of  noble  amaranth-crimson  flowers.  This,  with  A.  m. 
Youngi,  deep  amaranth,  are  two  border  plants  of  rare  merit. 
Geranium  platypetalum  is  cultivated  in  quantity  for  its  foliage, 
which  changes  to  crimson  in  autumn.  Sweet  Peas  and  hardy 
herbaceous  flowers,  with  culinary  Peas,  and  a  splendid  array  of 
the  different  vegetables  for  seeds,  completed  the  subjects  seen  in 
this  survey  of  Eynsford.  The  stay  would  have  been  prolonged, 
but  the  hands  of  the  clock  pointed  the  hour  of  my  train’s  arrival, 
and  a  sharp  drive  to  the  station  just  brought  me  there  in  time.— 
Zonal  Pelargoniums. 
Every  gardener  understands  the  value  of  Zonal  Pelargoniums 
for  the  production  and  supply  of  cut  flowers  during  the  winter 
months.  In  the  following  lines  I  name  a  number  of  varieties 
whose  merits  have  not  previously  been  made  known,  and  of  each 
of  which  the  very  highest  praise  can  be  given.  They  are  mostly 
M.  Bruant’s  novelties,  but  Messrs.  Canned  and  Sons  have  now  a 
goodly  stock  of  them.  In  doubles  we  have.  Captain  Flayelle,  after 
the  habit  of  King  of  Denmark,  known  and  appreciated  for  its 
robustness  of  growth.  This  habit  or  character  has  been  imparted 
to  a  large  number  of  the  later  varieties,  and  ample,  healthy 
leafage  is  not  objected  to. 
Another  of  the  finest  is  M.  Anatole  Roseleur,  an  excellent  rose- 
pink  variety  with  large  semi-double  flowers.  Tresor  is1  salmon, 
striped  with  a  lighter  shade  of  the  same  colour,  and  is  also  good. 
Again  in  salmon  shade  we  have  Madelaine  Lemaire,  which  is 
really  blush-salmon,  and  carries  flowers  of  an  enormous  size. 
Olive  Schreiner  is  rich  red  at  the  edges,  with  almost  a  white 
centre,  and  is  classed  as  a  Picotee-edged  sort.  Cousin  Bele  is 
also  salmon-blush,  while  Le  Colosse,  a  semi-double,  is  a  bright 
fiery  scarlet.  Thomas  Meehan  having  gigantic  flowers  presents 
a  deep  crimson  salmon  tint.  In  Transvaal  we  have  a  very 
brilliant  rosy-scarlet  flower;  and  Golden  Glory  is  the  best  of  all 
the  orange-scarlets.  Lastly,  I  would  name  Miss  Ashworth, 
which  is  spoken  of  as  the  finest  double  white. 
Then  there  are  a  number  of  new  and  superior  single  Zonal 
Pelargoniums.  St.  Cecilia  is  a  splendid  salmon-rose;  Lady 
Roscoe  with  the  same  tint  as  in  peach-blossom  is  decidedly 
beautiful,  and  Barbara  Hope,  a  good  rich  flesh-pink  suffused 
with  orange,  is  also  outstanding.  T.  E.  Green  might  be  described 
as  orange-scarlet,  and  is  one'  of  the  most  brilliant  flowers  of  all. 
Lady  Brook  conveys  a  very  delicate  light  pink  and  white  ;  while 
Mons.  Calvat  is  a  handsome  crimson ;  though  old  and  well- 
known,  one  still  finds  the  variety  H.  Cannell,  jun.,  with  its 
dark  crimson  flowers,  a  prime  favourite.  Concluding  the  list 
we  have  an  all-round  Zonal  in  King  Edward  VII.,  but  whose 
great  quality  lies  in  brilliance  and  richness  for  bedding  uses.  It 
seems  tor  be*  a  sport  reversion  to  the  true  deep  blackish-crimson 
Henry  Jacoby,  which  variety  is  so  very  much  confused  in 
collections  nowadays.  Seen  on  a  sunny  slope,  the  floriferous 
character  and  large  trusses  of  King  Edward  VII.  presented  a 
rich  and  glorious  effect. 
Begonias  and  Cannas. 
The  strain  of  single  and  double  Begonias  included  some 
wonderfully  bright  varieties,  and  among  the  species  the  little- 
known  B.  Martiana  with  bright  rose-pink  single  flowers,  borne 
on  short  stalks  close  to  the  fleshy  erect  stems,  was  indeed  very 
beautiful.  The  Cannas  from  here  are  absolutely  unexcelled,  and 
batch  after  batch  are  to  be  seen  “coming  on”  in  rotation.  The 
rootstocks  are  potted  into  Sin  or  Gin  pots,  never  larger,  and  with 
only  moderately  firm  packing  of  the  soil.  The  great  secret  of 
their  huge  floaver-spikes  would  seem  to  be  in  feeding,  which  is 
started  so  soon  as  the  first  appearances  of  a  flower  begin  to  show. 
They  are  grown  on  ash-covered  stages,  in  low  span-roofed  houses, 
so  that  the  foliage  is  quite  close  to  the  glass. 
Cockscombs  make  a  grand  feature,  and  it  is  not  often  that  a 
“  comb  ”  of  30in  in  circumference  from  one  side  to  the  other  can 
be  noted.  Nor  was  this  seen  now,  but  Mr.  Cannell’s  foreman 
vouches  for  it,  and  with  him  I  leave  the  record. 
The  succulent  house  is  at  all  times  very  interesting  and  un- 
*■  urpassed  in  the  richness  of  its  variety.  Echeveria  farinosa,  so 
pretty  as  an  edging  plant  for  dry  places,  struck  me  as  being 
particularly  desirable,  and  were  I  a  gardener  again,  there  are 
many  of  these  strange  looking  plants  which  I  would  gather 
together  into  a  collection. 
Passing  the  bedding  Lobelias  in  the  open  frames,  the  bright¬ 
ness  of  one  or  two  attracted  attention,  and  good  Lobelias  are 
always  welcomed  by  him  who  has  much  bedding  to  do.  Swanley 
Blue  is  deeply  coloured  yet  very  bright  withal,  and  has  a  white 
eye.  King  of  the  Blues  is  indigo  and  richly  toned,  with  a  largo 
white  eye.  Beauty  of  Darmstadt  is  a  deep,  glowing,  gentian-blue, 
and  has  no  white  eye,  or  at  least  only  a  speck.  The  Brighton 
Blue  is  a  washed-out,  poor  colour,  and  is  not  commended.  Is  it 
hopeless  to  desire  a  yellow  and  a  good  red  dwarf  bedding  Lobelia? 
The  word  “  impossible  ”  has  at  times  lost  the  affix. 
At  the  Horticultural  College. 
Under  a  heating  sun,  and  on  dusty  roads,  one  cared  little  for 
the  general  scene  on  either  side,  on  the  way  to  the  college.  It 
was  Prize  Day  there,  the  day  of  all  the  year  for  those  who  >o 
bravely  work  and  study  at  that  interesting  institution.  Parents, 
brothers,  sisters  and  friends  had  been  invited  to>  come  and  see 
what  progress  was  being  made,  and  after  the  prize  distribution 
the  whole  company  flocked  out  to’  the  typical  green  and  simothiy 
shaven  English  lawn  for  tea,,  or  iced  drinks  and  fruit. 
Sir  John  Cockburn,  late  Agent-General  for  South  Australia, 
presented  the  prizes,  and  his  geniality  of  countenance  attracted 
special  interest  to  his  speeches.  Sir  Joshua  Fitch,  who  presided, 
opened  the  proceedings  by  congratulating  the  governors  of  the 
Horticultural  College  on  the  steady  progress  which  the  institution 
was  making,  and  one  remarkable  feature  was  the  increase  in  the 
number  of  female  students.  During;  the  reign  of  the  late  Queen 
various  employments  had  been  opened  to  ladies  from  which  not 
so  very  long  ago  they  were  absolutely  excluded.  He  was  in  favour 
of  everything  which  opened  honourable  and  lucrative  occupations 
to  women,  and  therei  was  none  for  which  they  were  more  suited 
than  gardening,  and  those  who  received  proper  education  and 
training  in  that  institution  had  no  difficulty  in  obtaining  employ¬ 
ment.  Gardening  was  a  healthy  and  delightful  occupation,  and 
he  strongly  recommended  all  the  students  present  to  read  Bacon's 
charming  essay  on  gardens. 
Sir  John  Cockburn  said  some  of  them  might  regard  his 
presence  there  as  an  indication  of  the  colonial  invasion.  He 
recommended  them  in  their  turn  to  invade  the  colonies,  and 
assured  them  that  any  of  those  who'  had  obtained  a  knowledge  of 
gardening  in  that  college  would  receive  a  cordial  welcome  in 
Australia.  Sir  John  also  said  that  one  of  the  most  satisfactory 
points  of  the  college  was  the  ease  with  which  the  lady  students 
obtained  lucrative  employment,  90  per  cent,  of  those  who  had 
passed  last  year  having  been  successful  in  obtaining  appointments 
as  gardeners.  Indeed,  SO'  successful  have  the  ladies  been  in  the 
examinations,  including  practical  work  in  the  garden,  even  down 
to  mowing  with  scythes,  that  it  has  been  decided  to  make  the 
institution  a  women’s  college,  exclusive  of  all  men  students. 
Since  the  new  range  of  glass  houses  was  completed  the  garden 
has  been  greatly  enhanced  as  a  station  for  practical  teaching. 
The  north  field  lying  to  the  back  of  the  ranges,  has  been  converted 
to  an  admirable  vegetable  garden,  and  I  have  certainly  never  seen 
the  students’  plots  in  better  or  brighter  condition  than  they  are 
this  summer.  The  Rose  garden,  opened  only  two  years  ago,  in  the 
presence  of  Dean  Hole,  is  in  splendid  vigour,  and  loads  of  fine 
flowers  have  rewarded  the  attentions  of  the  student  gardeners. 
This  is  all  the  more  creditable  considering  that  the  soil  is  of  a 
light  and  sandy  character.  A  beautiful  pergola,  similar  to  the 
sixteenth  century  “galleries,”  has  been  erected  for  climbing 
Roses,  and  will  add  greatly  to  the  beauty  of  the  garden. 
The  new  conservatories  are  filled  with  a  miscellaneous  collec¬ 
tion  of  suitable  plants,  including  Hydrangea  hortensis,  Ivy-leaved 
Pelargoniums,  Cannas,  Oleanders,  Carnations,  Hedychium 
coronarium,  Begonias,  Gloxinias,  Abut  i  Ions,  Eupatoriums, 
Schizanthus,  Palms,  and  other  subjects,  including  a.  specimen 
Tropyeolum  Fireball  on  the  roof,  and  the  beautiful  Maurandya 
Barclayana  on  a  side  wall,  but  it  is  hoped  that  even  an  improved 
selection  will  be  got  together  in  course  of  time.  The  houses  are 
nicely  arranged  and  well  built,  though  the  ventilating  apparatus, 
could  have  been  improved. 
In  the  other  and  older  span-roofed  houses  there  are  excellent 
crops  of  Cucumbers,  Tomatoes,  Melons,  and  Grapes,  each  in  highly 
creditable  condition.  Under  the  direction  of  Mr.  H.  Patterson, 
late  of  the  Royal  Gardens,  Ivew,  the  practical  work  has  assumed  a 
new  and  higher  importance,  and  certainly  it  is  a  fact  that  the 
garden  smiles  more  distinctly  than  it  has  ever  done  before.  As 
the  garden  is  to  be  devoted  to1  women,  and  is  under  the  manage¬ 
ment  of  a  committee  of  the  fair  sex,  the  resident  principal,  a 
gentleman  who  has  made  himself  much  respected  during  his  term 
of  office  at  Swanley,  terminates  his  period  there  on  the  last  day 
of  this  month,  and  we  wish  him  success  in  his  new  sphere  of 
usefulness.- — Wandering  Willie. 
The  Value  of  a  Garden. 
There  would  certainly  be  more  loafers  at  Piccadilly  Corner, 
more  loungers  in  music  halls,  more  dull-eyed  fools  hanging  over 
tavern  counters  (says  a  daily  paper)  if  there  were  no  gardens  in 
our  suburbs.  A  man’s  home  means  to  many  a  clerk  his  garden, 
and  when  the  City  clocks  strike  six,  and  all  those  black  coats  go 
swarming  off  to  omnibus,  railway,  and  tramway  car,  be  sure  some 
of  that  haste  is  magnetised  by  the  little  garden  across  the  water 
where  spring  is  just  beginning  to  force  an  urban  smile. 
